The Telescope presents: the top albums of 2015. We gathered best-of lists from staff and contributors, crunched some numbers and came up with a list of records that unanimously wowed us this year.

There’s a telling comment on the YouTube page for “Old Fires Die” (seen above). Someone asked, “Who wrote this song??” “He did,” was the reply. The question did need asking. “Old Fires Die,” like everything else on If I’ve Only One Time Askin’, belongs on your grandpa’s favourite AM radio station in 1950.

When Daniel Romano (formerly of Attack In Black) chooses a guise, it consumes him completely, to the point where it ceases to be an act. He sounds the part, he dresses the part and he lives the lifestyle, too—dude’s an accomplished leatherworker in his spare time.

If I’ve Only One Time Askin’ first stands out because no one’s made music like this in decades (that we know of—prove us wrong); you won’t see anything on CMT that comes close. This album is more than just a novelty, though. Romano is a convincing storyteller; when he wallows in the depths of despair—and he does that a lot on this record—you’re right there with him, mopping up the tears.